OPML to DocBook Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
OPML is the outline-exchange XML: nested <outline> elements that carry subscription lists (podcast apps, RSS readers) and mind-map exports from Workflowy, Dynalist and OmniOutliner. Convert DocBook when XML source needs to become Word manuscripts, Markdown docs or web pages.
iLoveConverter processes everything locally on your computer, which makes it private and fast: no upload wait, no server storage, no limits. Add as many files as you like — batch conversion is built in.
How OPML compares to DocBook
| OPML | DocBook | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | XML <outline> tree | Semantic XML (<chapter>/<section>/<para>) |
| Types / schema | XML, text + attributes | XML, DTD/RelaxNG validated |
| Compatibility | RSS readers, outliners, Pandoc | XSL-FO, Pandoc, docbook-xsl |
| Best for | Subscriptions lists and mind maps | Books, manuals, enterprise documentation |
How to convert OPML to DocBook
- 1
Select your files
Select your OPML file.
- 2
Convert instantly
The file is first converted to markdown (an interchange format that keeps headings, lists and paragraphs), then rebuilt into the target format.
- 3
Download results
Download the DocBook — structure preserved, heavy layout simplified.
About the OPML format
OPML (Outline Processor Markup) is XML for hierarchies: nested <outline> elements, each with text and optional attributes. It is the silent standard behind podcast and RSS subscription lists — every "export subscriptions" button produces one — and the interchange format for outliners like Workflowy, Dynalist and OmniOutliner.
An outline is already half a document: Pandoc turns OPML hierarchies into Markdown headings, Word outlines or HTML pages with the nesting preserved, and can write OPML back out so a bulleted plan becomes an importable tree in your outliner of choice.
+Strengths
- ✓Universal outline exchange between outliners
- ✓The RSS/podcast subscription standard
- ✓Trivially parseable XML
!Limitations
- −Hierarchies only — no rich text per node
- −Attribute conventions vary between apps
- −Rarely rendered directly for humans
About the DocBook format
DocBook is the XML schema that industrial technical publishing was built on. Instead of markup for appearance, it marks meaning: <chapter>, <section>, <para>, <figure>, <indexterm>. A single DocBook source renders to PDF via FO processors, HTML help systems, EPUB and printed books — O'Reilly, Red Hat and virtually every enterprise manual pipeline relied on it, and the man pages on your Linux box descend from the same lineage.
DocBook's rigor is its weight: authoring by hand is verbose, and moving content into lighter systems is a standing chore. Pandoc reads the element structure directly, so a book chapter becomes a Word manuscript or a Markdown docs page with sections, tables and code blocks intact — single-sourcing out, editing comfort in.
+Strengths
- ✓Semantic, presentation-free source of truth
- ✓One source renders to print, web and EPUB
- ✓Decades of enterprise tooling
!Limitations
- −Verbose XML — painful to hand-edit
- −Heavy processor toolchain (XSL-FO)
- −Overkill for anything shorter than a manual
Why convert OPML to DocBook?
Converting makes sense where the strengths of DocBook meet what OPML cannot give you. Semantic, presentation-free source of truth Meanwhile Hierarchies only — no rich text per node One pass through the converter above puts your file on the right side of that trade-off.
Frequently asked questions
Is this OPML to DocBook converter really free?
Yes — completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily conversion limits. The site is supported by advertising.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your files never leave your device — that is what makes it instant and private.
Does it work on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android?
Yes. Anything with a modern browser works: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. No software installation is required.
Is there a file size limit for OPML to DocBook?
The only limit is your device's memory, since nothing is uploaded. Files up to a few hundred megabytes work fine on a modern desktop browser; very large files simply take a little longer.
Can I edit the DocBook result afterwards?
That depends on the target: DocBook is designed for what it does, and this converter reproduces its content faithfully rather than inventing editable structure. For heavy re-editing, work from a format built for editing and export the final version here.
Does the conversion work offline?
Yes. Once the page has loaded, the conversion itself runs entirely inside your browser — you can even disconnect and keep converting. No file ever touches a server.